Late Late Show legend suggests radical change that could save RTE chat show

Former LATE Late Show musical director Frank McNamara said the chat show should be taken on the road in order for it to survive.

The talented pianist – who worked alongside Gay Byrne for 20 years – said the Friday night chat show needs to leave the confines of Montrose and travel on the road each week to different communities.

Mr McNamara the show’s ratings has been on a “downward spiral for a long time” and it is a “good thing” that it is being outsourced and moving out of Montrose.

He told us: “I think it’s a good thing. I don’t see anything wrong with it at all. I think the Late Late Show should be on the road. I think it should be in a different place every week. It should be in theatres. Go out and meet the people. It’s part of the fabric of Irish society.”

READ MORE: Ex Late Late Show musical director says Gay Byrne 'kept the wages down at RTE'

READ MORE: RTE's ex musical director says Kevin Bakhurst's 'anti-talent stance' is 'deplorable'

Under RTE’s new five year plans, Director General Kevin Bakhurst is hoping to outsource the chat show, hosted by Patrick Kielty, and move the studio out of RTE in Donnybrook. Mr McNamara said the show’s original host Gay Byrne “used to love going out of studio”.

“We did the Opera House in Cork in my time. Gay Byrne use to love going out of studio but the only time we got to do that was when the studio was used for the National Song Contest or something. Then we went once to Goffs. We did a live show from there. We did one from London and New York.”

Mr McNamara said the ratings have been on a “downward spiral for a long time”.

“That has been a downward spiral for a long time, during Ryan Tubridy’s time as well. It’s a broader thing. It’s nothing to do with the Late Late. I actually think Patrik Kielty is doing a very good job. I enjoy watching it. I almost never see it live on the Friday so if everyone is like that, then the ratings are going to be done. But terrestrial television has been over for a long time,” he added.

Mr McNamara was speaking ahead of a series of his Candlelight Concerts, which are on sale.

He performs The Beatles by Candlelight on November 30 in the Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links and a Disney by Candlelight concert on December 28 in Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links.

Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite.ie or at the hotel’s reception.

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